Critic Reviews

If you are looking for a solid action game to keep you occupied for a few hours, do not miss Demon Stone. Especially fans of the Dungeons & Dragons RPG system or Forgotten Realms novels may have a great deal of fun playing the game.

To say that Stormfront Studios has just remade The Two Towers with D&D trappings wouldn't be entirely inaccurate, but it wouldn't be completely fair to Demon Stone either. Stormfront has obviously honed its craft over the past two years, and the overall experience feels richer and more robust. On its own terms, Forgotten Realms: Demon Stone is a satisfying adventure, and in the bigger picture, it stands to introduce the fantastical world of Dungeons & Dragons to a broader audience. Regardless of that, it's a good game that's well worth playing.

Following from its brief stint as a PS2 exclusive in 2004, Atari finally got around to releasing the PC and Xbox versions of Demon Stone earlier in the year – though you’d be forgiving for not having noticed. As a straight-out action/adventure game it’s a good deal of fun (if a little on the short side), offering up some excellent virtual cinematography; and not that we’re complaining, but it makes for an unusual PC release.

Atari's latest ode to the alternative Dungeons & Dragons universe known as Forgotten Realms: Demon Stone certainly has a lot going for it. Not only is it developed by the same team responsible for the original Lord of the Rings: The Towers by Electronic Arts, it also boasts some powerful production values. Scripted by the legendary Forgotten Realms author, R.A. Salvatore (of Icewind Dale fame) and voiced by Patrick Stewart (Star Trek: The Next Generation, X-Men), it's already blessed with a better pedigree than that god awful Marlon Wayans D&D movie from a few years back.

Set in the popular "Dungeons & Dragons" (D&D) universe, "Forgotten Realms Demon Stone" follows a band of adventurers who inadvertently release two imprisoned demons; the trio vows to restore order before these warring creatures and their armies tear the world apart.

Demon Stone puts you in the driver's seat of three characters. Yep, that's right, you get to let loose on all the bad guys playing three very different character types - a warrior named Rannek, a sorcerer named Illius and a half Drow, half Wood Elf Rogue named Zhai. Mastering all three is well worth the effort as there are portions of gameplay that are suited for each individual character. The better you are at playing each character, the easier it is to progress.

I guess that the fans of the Forgotten Realms will find more appeal in Demon Stone than I did. I do not wish to indicate that Demon Stone is a bad game for anyone except Forgotten Realms fans, but it is simply not good enough. Being short and with no multiplayer it can offer you a several hours' fun, and that is not an entirely bad way to spend your time. You will get some solid, exciting action and the wish to find some dark corners and become invisible, which may result in slicing your postman's throat or performing a jumping attack on your house plant. And just how bad is that?

Maybe it’s just Patrick Stewart’s narration, but Demon Stone is enjoyable despite its flaws. If you want to get your knuckles bloody or evaporate enemies on the spot, or better yet, if you’re in a vicious, backstabbing mood. Demon Stone satisfies those basic needs, but not much else.

Fans of the Forgotten Realms books written by R.A. Salvatore will find a lot to like about Demon Stone. There's a decent plot, and the game's fantastic graphics really make you feel like you're in Faer¿n. And for a brawler, it's a very playable game. However, compared to other games, it's more like an interactive movie. You buy the ticket, you take the ride. And despite how cool the ride was, once it's over, you can't help but lament how short it was, and how it wouldn't be any different the next time.